Never Too Late To Get A High School Diploma

April 04, 1986|By Abigail Van Buren.

Dear Abby: This is for ``Closet Dropout,`` the young married woman who had never graduated from high school. She wanted a high school diploma but was afraid that if she enrolled in a local school the whole town would know it, and it might embarrass her husband--a prominent businessman.

My situation was a bit different. Sixty years ago, when I completed grade school in a one-room country school, my parents thought I had enough education for a girl, so I went to work instead.

Years passed; I married, but never gave up my dream of a higher education. I heard that I could take a correspondence course by writing to the American School of Correspondence, 850 E. 58th St., Chicago, Ill. 60637

(telephone: 312-947-3300). I wrote for the particulars and enrolled. I was 42 at the time. I was allowed five years to complete the high school course, but I finished in a year and a half. After I got my high school diploma, I applied for college, passed the entrance exams, earned a college degree and taught school for 15 years.

I`m retired now, but I never get bored. I`m too busy.

Tell ``Closet Dropout`` to let nothing stand in her way. Anyone who really wants a high school diploma can get it.

Lena Stephens,

Anderson, Ind.

Dear Lena: Congratulations. Many wrote to say they received their high school diplomas through correspondence courses. Read on:

Dear Abby: In our country, there are more than 25 million high school dropouts or folks who never attended high school--many of whom would dearly love to earn a high school diploma. A great many either feel embarrassed or find it inconvenient to attend resident school programs.

I served 51 years in the field of education and have a suggestion for your readers:

Anyone who wants to earn a high school diploma should write or phone the National Home Study Council, 1601 18th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

(202-234-5100), and ask for information on accredited home-study high schools. (For university courses: National University Continuing Education Association, One Dupont Circle, Suite 420, Washington, D.C. 20036.)

Correspondence by mail is a very effective method of learning. The prime advantage is that students can study at the time and place of their choice and proceed at their own pace. And correspondence courses are generally far less expensive than resident programs.

I served as the director of education at the American School of Correspondence for 34 years, then left to become dean of Hadley School for the Blind in Winnetka, Ill.--the only school that offers correspondence courses for the blind, tuition-free, to students throughout the world.

E.C. Estabrooke, Winnetka

Dear Abby: Several months ago, a prominent Louisiana physician choked to death while dining--in a room filled with physicians! It was the third such tragedy in as many years, all involving persons I had known well.

In all three cases, the victims, programmed since childhood not to show distress in the presence of other diners, left the table without giving the slightest indication that there was a serious problem.

One simple gesture--grasping the throat with both hands--might have saved them. I cannot think of a better medium than your column to spread the vital word that this means, ``Help! I`m choking!`` I hope you feel that this is worth space in your column.

Concerned

Dear Concerned: Worth the space? Yours may be a lifesaving contribution, and I thank you for it.